Submarine vessel.



C. VON CULIN.

SUBIJARINE VESSEL.

AWLICATION FILED oc. 1s. 19|5.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

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"11E-EL.

C. VON CULIN.

SUBMARINE VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 18. 1915.

Pfitemed Mar. 14, 19m.

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CLAYTON VON CULIN, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF UNIT-HALF TO GEORGE WATSON BEACH, OF SAYBROOK, CONNECTICUT.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented hllar. let, 193316.

m Application filed October i8, 1915. Serial No. 56,468,

new and useful Improvements in Submarine Vessels; and I do declare the following to be a full. clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in submarine vessels so designed as torender first, safety to the crew, and second, safety .to the vessel, it being allowed to rise to the surface of the water in case of emergency without employing any energy other than that of man,

I-Ieretofore, the accidental loss of submarines and life thereon has been invariably due to broken or ineffective machinery preventing` expulsion of the water from the water ballast tanks of the vessel, and thus preventing such vessel from rising to the surface. To overcome this diiiicultymumerons means have been devised, among the most prominent of which is the method of equipping the vessel with a. series of weights in addition to its water ballast tanks. By so doing, the weights may be released in case of necessityto increase the buoyancy-of the vessel. The desired end is thus accomplished, but not without increasing the load of the vessel.

My invention bears closely on the type of improvement last mentioned, but rather than supplement the water ballast tanks with weights, I detaehably secure said tanks to the vessel. Thus the construction of the ship is simplified, and no useless weight need be carried when the vessel is afloat, yet in case of emergency, the tanks lled with water may be released from the submarine, thereby increasing the buoyancy ofthe latter and allowing it to rise to the surface.

In the attainment of the end above specified, I employ certain novel features 'of construction. and' Iunique combinations offy parts of which the accompanying drawings are illustrative.

In these drawings: Figure l is a side elevation partly in section-of a submarine constructed lla accordance with my invention;-

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of a portion of the vessel; Fig, 3 is a vertical transverse section as seen on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and Fig. el is a detail vertical section disn closing a coupling device which may be substituted or used in conjunction with those shown in the previous gures,'for detachably connecting the vessel and the tank.

In specilically describing the invention. reference will be made to the ldrawings above briefly described by similar reference characters placed on corresponding parts throughout the several views. To this end, the numeral l 'designates the hull proper of the vessel, such hull being of the usual or any preferred construction with the exception that it is provided with a comparatively flat bottom 2 whose front end preferably curves upwardly at 3. It may here be stated that the hull, thus formed, may serve as a complete surface boat.

rI`he bottom 2 of the hull l is equipped with a tl-shaped rib 4 extending substantially throughout its length, said rib being received in a longitudinally extending groove or depression 5 formed approximately throughout the length of a water ballast tank 6 which extends from one end of the hull l to the other endtllereof, being curved upwardly at 7 into contact with the upwardly curved end 3 of the bottom Q'.

Secured in any preferred .manner to the bottom of the hull l and disposed in said hull, is a pair of upright tubular female coupling members S preferably having stuffing boxes 9 at their upper ends. The me1nbers S receive removably therein a pair of upright male coupling members l0 and l0a rising from the tank 6, the upper ends of said male members being secured to hoisting cables 1l and 11n which rise through the `stuffing boxes 9 on the members 8 and are wound upon an appropriate windlass 12 preferably driven through the instrumentality of a train of gears 13 from a suitable motor 14.

The male members 10 Uvnd 10il respectively are formed with upright ports 'l5 and l5a opening at their upper ends through' one side of the members in question and communicating aat-heir lower-ends with the interior of the' water ballast tank 6, the port -il upper and lower ends ot' the members 8 when ports 21 and-21EL whose inner ends normally- Q messes 16 disposed in the tank and extending beneath several of the usual wash plates 17 therein.

Seats 18 and 18a are formed in the male members andl 10 respectively,` and the ports and 15u open throughs-said seats, the latter being designed to normally receive therein the roundedl inner ends ot' a pair of clamping screws 19 and 19a' which are threaded transversely 'through the lower end portions of the female members 8, being preferably passed through stuliing boxes 2O and 20a. The clamping screws 19 and 19a have formed longitudinally therethrough register with the ports 15 and 15 respectively. Leading from the outer end of the ports21` and 2l", are two valved tubes 22 and 22, the former being in communication with a compressed air storage tank 23, while the tube 22u leads to a water pump 23a. The

pump 23 is driven by an appropriate motor 24 which likewise drives an air compressor 25 for compressing air into the tank 23. i From the foregoing description, it will i be obvious that the clamping screws 19 and 191 not only serve as means lffor establishing communication between the tank 23 land Ithe pump 20, and the interior of the tank 6,

rbutl they effectively serve to lock the male and ,female members 8 and 10 respectively against relative movement, thereby normally retaining the tank 6 in contact with the bottom 2. However, the clamping action of the screws 19 and 19%l is preferably supplemented by auxiliary screws 26 threaded through the intermediate portions ofthe female vmeml bers 8 into seats or the like formed near the upper end of the male members 10. Furthermor'e,l additional 'clamping screws 27 may be threaded transverselv through the aforesaid members 8 in axial alinement with the screws 19a. The screws 2T may also be used to obstruct communication between the the male members 10 are removed. as will be hereinafter set forth.

For admitting water to the tank 6 for the purpose of submerging the vessel, a water inlet '28 is provided, such inlet being equipped with a valve seat 29 with which a cone valve 30 coacts, said valve having an upright stem 31 projecting slidably through la sleeve-like guide 32 rising from the tank (i and through an appropriate bearing carriedby a frame 33 suspended within the tank. The tubular guide 32 is normally re#v ceived in an appropriate housing 34 within the hull, and within this'housing an operating member 35 in thel form of a screw is mounted, the lower end of said screw be` ing4 provided with a socket 36 for the reception of the squared upper end 37 of the stemA 31. Thus, the rotation of the screw' 35 by a hand when or are like was what a is equipped, will forcel the valve 30 downwardly to close theinlet 28, or will allow springs 38 to open' said valve, according to the direction in which the screw is turned.

In operation, assuming that the vessel is afloat with the tank 6 filled with air, and that it is desired to submerge the ship, compressed air from the tank 6 is allowed to pass through the ports 15 and 21 and through the tube 22 into the storage tank 23, the air being expelled from the ballast tank 6 by the lnrush of water through the opening 28, after the valve in the tube 22 has been opened to allow the escape of such air into the aforesaid storage tank. Filling the tank 6 with water of course decreases the buoyancy of the vessel and causes the same to sink. In order to again rise to the surface, it is necessary to force air into the tank (3 and at the same time to expel the Water therefrom, these operations being accomplished by the provision of the compressor 25, tank 23, and pump 23u. lt will thus be evident that ii any one of these parts should become ineffective for any reason whatsoever, the vessel could not rise were it not for the fact that the water laden ballast tank (i is releasable. In such an emergency, therefore, all of the clamping screws bearing against the male coupling members 1() and 10 are released and the windlass 12 is allowed to rotate lreely independently of its driving means, the result being that if the tank (l rest upon the .bed or the body of water, the hull being relieved of the weigh-t of said tank, will rise, during which operation the cables 11 and 11 will unwind freely from the windlass 12. lf the cables in question be of suiiicient length, the hull 1 may rise to the surface, but it the vessel be submerged in very deep water, it may be necessary to release such cables from the windlass 12. it this need necessarily be done,

the tank G cannot be recovered, but it' thefied will be equally as elliciont as those nowin common use, yet it will be much more desirable on account of the safety of the crew as well as of the entire ship.'

I have described thc entire arrangement of parts as constituting a submarine ship, I

but evidently a similar coi'istruction might harbor defensive fort. Obviously, if this be done, orrin fact even when the device Vis in the form of a ship,.the tank 6 may be released from the vessel proper and allowed -well be devised for use as a submergiblc l to rest on the bottom of the body of Water, whereupon, as the ship proper or fort as the case may be, rises to the desired extent, ro tation of the Windlass l2 may be prevented. rIhus the buoyant part of the vessel, Whether it be a ship or a fort, maybe anchored at any desired depth.

The. means above described for .securing the tank to the hull l might Well be varied, and suggestive of such a variation, I( have included F l in the illustrative matter. In this g'ure, an upright tubular nut 4,0 rises from a portion of the tank 6 into an appropriate housing el carried by the bottom 2 of the hull l, and said nut receives therein an upright clamping screw 42 Which may be released or applied at will by proper actuation of a hand leve: or the like 43 with which it is equipped. rlhe detail of con.- struction just described might bev provided at any one of a number of suitable points throughout the length ot the ship as will be obvious, oemight Well be used as fastening means auxiliary to that above described..

The foregoing description, taken'in connection with the accompanying drawings, will render the construction and operation ot my improved submarine entirely clear to those skilled in the art to which the'invention relates. Further description or exposition will not thereiore be given, but in conclusion l vfish to state that although certain speeilic details of construction have been shown and described for illustrative purposes, numerous changes may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed, without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim 'l. submarine vessel equipped with a releasable water ballast tank having a Water inlet, means in the vessel tor expelling water trom the tank, cooperating coupling members on the tank and ou the vessel proper for securing the tivo together, a port in the member on the tank, leading.; into the latter, and an additional port with which the lirst port normally registers, said additional port being in comnmnication with the aforesaid means.

2. fr submarine vessel equipped with a releasable water ballast tank having awva'ter inlet, means in the vessel for expellingr water from thel tank, cooperating coupling` members on the vessel proper, and on the tank, a port in the member on the tank leading' into the latter, a clamping device. carried by the other member tor locking the two members together, and an additional port in said clan'ipinfg device normallyY aliued with the aforesaid port, said additional port being' in comn'iunication with the atoresaid means.

3, A submarine vessel equii'uied with a rcleasable water ballast tank having a Water inlet, means in the vessel for expelling Water from the tank, coperating couplin` ineinbers on the vessel proper and on the tank, port in the member on the tank leadingr into the latter, a clamping; screw carried by the other member for locking the tvvo meiners together, and an additional port formed through said screw and nmmally registering with the aforesaid port, said add-.iti 'il port being said means.

li. il. submarine vessel equipped with a relcasable Water ballast tank having a vvater inlet, means in the vessel for expelling Water from the tank, a female coupling member carried by the vessel proper, a male coupling member carried by the tank and received in said female member, said male member havingT in one side a seat. a port in the male member leading lfrom the seat to the tank. a, clamping` sereiv threaded trans-- versely through the female member and nor4 mally received in the `seat, and an'additional port orn'ied through the sri-ouf and registering vvith the other port, said .additii'mal port being in communication with the aforesaid means.

.5. A. submarine having as its sulnnergingg and "buoj'ing means a releasable @vater .ball

last tank having a water inlet. a male coupling numiber ris-mp; from said tank and having' a port delivering imo the latter and openinp through one side ot said member, a'n upright female coupling;l member car- Jiied bv the vessel proper and receiving` the 'iupale member therein. a cable secured to the male member and rising' through the upper end of the 'temalemember, a windlass upon which said cable is wound, a clamping screw threaded transversely through the female member into Contact with the niale member and having` a port registering` with the aforesaid port, and means in the vessel. and in eomnmnicatii'm with the additional port for expelling' water l'roin the tank.

o. A, sulmiarine vessel equipped with a releasable u'al'er ballast tank having a. Water inlet, au air supply in the vessel proper for forcing: air into the ballast tank, a Water pump in said vessel proper Jfor exhausting water from said tank, a pair of coupling,l members carried by 'the vessel proper and communieatinp,` respectively with the air supply and water nunp, and additional couplingmembers carried b v the tank and cooperatingl with the aforesaid members.

submarine vessel equipped with a releasable water ballast tank hai/innV Water inlet. avalve l'or said inlet having;r an upright operatingzj stem provided on upper end with a -eouplinf member, an. i.; fratiugr member carried by the ve' el proper and havingT an additional coupling' member tor cooperation with the aforesaid member, a pair of coupling nien'ibers carried by the in 'communication with the atorevessel proper, an air 'sup ly communicate ing with one of said mem ers and a water pump communicating with the other, and a second pair4 of coupling members carried by the'tank for. cooperation with the afore' member, and means in communication with' member carried by the vessel said third member' for expelling Water from the tank.

9. A submarine vessel equipped with a releasable water ballast tank on `its under side, said `tank having in its bottom a Water inlet, a housing Within the vessel proper and opening throngv the bottom thereof immediately abovev the Water inlet, an operating device in saidrhousing and having a coupling member positioned downwardly, a valve for controlling the waterinlet, and a stem rising from saidf valve into the aforesaid housing and having an additional coupling member cooperating with the aforesaid member.

r'10. A submarine `vessel having a releasable submerging Weight, a male coupling,

meinber rising from said Weight and having a seat in one side, a female coupling proper and slidably receiving the male member therein', and a clamping screw threadedy transversely through said female member into contact With the seat.

` 11. A submarine vessel having a releasable submerging weight, a male coupling member rising from the Weight, an upright female coupling member carried-by the vessel proper and receiving the male member therein, a cable secured to the upper-vend of said male member and extending through the upper end of the female member', and a`"windlass on which the cable'is wound.

12. `A submarine vessel provided substanp tially throughout the length of its bottom with a longitudinal rib,- and a releasable submerging Weight extending substantially throughout the length of the bottom of the vessel and having a longitudinal depression receiving Ithe rib therein.

13. A submarine vessel having a4 Waterballast tank, means in the vessel proper for to bev again submergedvwithout emptying or filling said tank.

7 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses. f

CLAYTON von Cubin,-

'Witnesses z I H. JAnvis BEACH, OLIVER R. GRAirr. 

